Trump asked Norway about Nobel Prize during tariff talks

 Trump speaks to press at Kennedy Center, 13 August, 2025.
Reuters

When U.S. President Donald Trump phoned Norway’s finance minister, Jens Stoltenberg, last month to discuss trade tariffs, he also inquired about the Nobel Peace Prize, Dagens Naeringsliv reported Thursday.

Several countries, including Israel, Pakistan, and Cambodia have nominated Trump for his role in brokering peace agreements or ceasefires, and he has publicly said he believes he deserves the Norwegian-bestowed honor, previously awarded to four U.S. presidents.

According to the newspaper, Trump’s call came 'out of the blue' while Stoltenberg was walking in Oslo. “He wanted the Nobel Prize and to discuss tariffs,” the report said, citing unnamed sources.

Neither the White House, Norway’s finance ministry, nor the Norwegian Nobel Committee responded to requests for comment.

The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded annually in October in Oslo by a five-member committee appointed by Norway’s parliament.

The paper noted this was not the first time Trump had raised the prize in conversation with Stoltenberg, a former NATO secretary general.

Stoltenberg said the call focused on tariffs and economic cooperation ahead of Trump’s separate discussion with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Stoere. When asked about the Nobel topic, he declined to elaborate.

On July 31, the White House announced a 15% tariff on Norwegian imports, matching the European Union rate. Stoltenberg confirmed Wednesday that tariff talks between the two nations are ongoing.

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